Location : Pulau Beras Basah, Kota Bontang, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia.
The sunny afternoon was near perfect when we set out from the Bontang port in a speed boat except for a slight haze coming from an open burning somewhere near Bontang as we noticed while driving in earlier in the morning. The deep blue sea was calm and the breezy ride took only 20min.
Beras Basah island with many coconut trees was much tinier than we had expected but there was more than enough room for our group. 
I noticed there was another group of 3 local boys who came in another boat. There were at least 3 food operators with their families staying there supplementing their income with the rentals of tents as well as selling fresh water from the mainland in jerry cans. Our guide Ahsan offered 2 options for us to pass the night, hammocks in the gazebo or camping. We chose the later and decided it be pitched on the east side of the island so we could watch the sun rise from the tent.
Just before the sun went down Arief suggested it was time to snorkel. Coral life seemed to be doing okay despite the fact that this island receives many visitors during weekends. Wished we had started earlier as visibility was getting poorer by the minute.
Interestingly, we had to purchase our shower water by the jerry cans from the food operators. Dinner was readied by Ahsan at one of the vendors. We chatted with the locals for a bit before calling it a day as there were no night activities in our package. I do believe for those who are into angling, the night session could be made less boring if guests could be brought by boat to fish around the island. But for us, we were quite contented with the windy star filled night and most important – No sandflies!.
Also please check out our posts on
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- Wisata Alam Bukit Bangkirai
- Bontang Kuala Water Village
- Beras Basah Island Day 2
- Pulau Tihi Tihi Water Village
- Tugu Khatulistiwa Equator Monument Santan Ulu
- Desa Budaya Kenyah Sungai Bawang
- KPJ Play Land, Kutai Kartanegara
- Wood Museum
- Ladang Budaya Ladaya Tenggarong
- Kota Tenggarong
